quinta-feira, 10 de setembro de 2015

In 1963, the comic book legends Stan Lee and Jack Kirby first created the X-Men and I guess they could have had no idea what they were get into...much more than just a comic book story...a whole new world that would be part of millions and millions fans' life and the start point to a discussion that would intrigue us forever - are mutants real?

Unfortunately, according to the text in our booklet, they are real, but not so glamorous as we see them in Hollywood movies. Maybe it will be possible in a future (no so long) due to some researches that have been conducted around the world.

According to The Telegraph, there are some mutants among us and they are quite special because on the contrary of the text that we've studied lately, these people are not sick, they are healthy and their "powers" are beyond the common human limitations. And the best part of it, these super powers can also be used to benefit others. For example, in 2006, scientists at Cambridge University discovered a Pakistani street performer who was able to cut himself with knives without experiencing pain. Upon investigation, they found that he was one of a handful of local people who had a defect in a gene called SCN9A meaning that pain did not flow from the nerves to the brain. Researchers are currently studying whether this may provide the key to treating chronic pain conditions.Post Question:

- Do you like the X-Man comic books, movies or cartoon? Which one is you favorite mutant Why?- If you could have a "super mutant power", which one would you like to have? Why?

Tip: To read the article published on The Tegraphand read about the other "real mutants", just click here.To read more about how genetic mutations associated with disease may be beneficial for certain sports, just click here. (This article is in Portuguese).

sexta-feira, 3 de abril de 2015

Last Tuesday
was March 31st, but just in our Gregorian calendar! But at night, I could swear it was Christmas time! My
husband and I went to the Sala São Paulo to feel all the joy of this most festive
holiday time of the year due to the presentation of The Ninth (and last)
Symphony composed by Ludwig van Beethoven interpreted by the orchestra TUCCA
Philharmonic – with the conductor João Maurício Galindo. It was the season
opener of the Healing Music Series (Série Música pela Cura), an international music
festival promoted by TUCCA (an Association for Children and
Adolescents with Cancer. It’s a non-profit organization founded in 1998 by
doctors, parents of patients and representatives of civil society, with the
proposal to increase cure rates and improve the quality of life of disadvantaged
youth with cancer).

By
November of this year, TUCCA has already invited highlights of classical music
and world jazz to take the stage of one of the world's best concert halls. Among
several attractions, some of them have already been confirmed: the first
mandolin Grammy nominated, Avi Avital; and the guitarist Milo Karadaglic.

All
proceeds from the sale of tickets are for the treatment of patients assisted by
the Hospital Santa Marcelina in partnership with the Association. All proceeds
from the sale of tickets are for the treatment of patients assisted by the Hospital
Santa Marcelina in partnership with the Association.

“The art
brings benefits to all parties involved, the partner, the employee and, in
particular, to the patient," says the pediatric oncologist Dr. Sydney
Epelman, president of TUCCA.

I couldn’t
agree more! And I would add it brings benefits to anyone who is lucky enough to
attend the concerts. At the end of the night, after the presentation, we went
back home with our heart so glad and amazed, exactly how they feel at Christmas!

Post Question:

- Do you like classical music? Do you have a
favorite composer? Who is he?

- Have you heard the Ninth Symphony completely? How do
you feel when you are listening to it?

Tip: To know more about TUCCA and all the Healing Music Series, just click here.

terça-feira, 31 de março de 2015

A group of high school students went to Jaraguá
Theater (in Novotel Jaraguá, at 71, Martins Fontes street, São Paulo downtown)
to see the play "Doze Homens e Uma Sentença". The play is a
drama written by Sidney Lumet, an American director, producer and screenwriter
with over 50 films to his credit.

The play is adapted from Lumet's film "12
Angry Men"(1957), It's
the story of a dozen individuals, in a New York City courthouse, who are in
charge of reaching a verdict. The defendant is a teenager boy who is accused of
stabbing his father to death and the decision of convicting or absolving him
must be unanimous.The conflict begins when one of the twelve jurors
(this character is played by the actor Norival Rizzo) is not so sure about the
defendant's guilt and it's exactly because of it that he is the dissonant vote
of the group who has already decided by condemnation. Little by little, the
juror number 08 presents convincing arguments that make all the other jurors
rethink their position.

In 1997 a remake of the film under the same title was
released by MGM and in 2007 "12 Angry Men" was selected for
preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of
Congress as being culturally and historically significant.

At the end of the play, the students had the
opportunity of meeting the actors and they kindly talked and gave autographs to
our group.Under the direction of Eduardo Tolentino Araújo the
play debuted on November, 19th 2010 and based on our group's opinion, it's
highly recommended!

Post Question: For the students (or anyone else), who saw the play, the movie or read
the script:

- If you were one of the jurors, what would be your
vote, in the beginning of the deliberation?

- If you were one of the jurors, based on your
personality, which one would you be? Why?

terça-feira, 17 de março de 2015

According to
Heineken, today is the happiest day of the year because it's St. Patrick's
Day...Does anyone doubt it?

Of course we have all the religious
celebration that must be remembered and I really like St. Patrick very much.
Indeed, I think that the St. Patrick's prayer (or at least the one which is
assigned to him) is the most complete prayer ever written because it's
about protection in all levels and gratitude. It's also a great day (as an
excuse) to have a pint of Guinness or any other beer that's your favorite one. But what makes this day really happy for me are two very special
reasons:

- First - it's my father's
birthday. Today he turns 74 years old and he has been very active, healthy and
became more relaxed and is enjoying life doing what he likes to do: travel to
the countryside and fishing. Celebrating his birthday has been very funny
because of the children. And it's a great opportunity to get the family
together.

- Second - my husband and I
have an agreement - doesn't matter what happens on this day, if it was a great
day or a perfectly trouble and complicated one - we will get together at the end of the afternoon and go to
the nearest pub to have my pint of Guinness (because it's my favorite one) and
his Weissbier (a beer made of wheat). But the idea here is get a moment
only for us, to chat a little and drink...no matter what! We often meet some
friends there, but even then it's our moment to have fun. If we don't get some
moments like this one for us, all the must-do things can make us forget about
ourselves and, in the long run, it's very chaotic and harmful. After indulging
ourselves, we go home to celebrate my father's birthday. So, the party keeps going on!

So, St. Patrick's Day, for me, is
and always will be one of the happiest day of the year.

sábado, 7 de março de 2015

With the
advancement of technology and all the progress that man has achieved, it is unbelievable
that there is still room for racist acts as we are unfortunately forced to
witness in our day to day.

- Students
in the class of the 6th year of Medicine, at UNESP (São Paulo State University),
held a party to receive the freshmen dressed in costumes similar to the Ku Klux
Klan, a well-known American racist organization that advocated white supremacy
and attacked black. What for? What on Earth were they thinking?

- Some football
players are attacked on the field, during the match, by opposing fans and even
by other players, who seem to have forgotten that a fair game is won by the
skill of the players involved and not
for stupid and childish acts.

These
people would benefit if they could do an internship with the people who appear
in this video offering a free lesson on what it means to respect another human
being. This nice video was made in Lithuania and it brings hope that maybe one
day everyone will be civilized enough to do the same as they did.

Respect,
this is the most effective weapon to combat such ignorance.

Post Question:

- Have you ever
been exposed to any kind of prejudice?

- Do you think that people as the students who were dressed like Ku Klux Klan and the football players or team supports, who
has offended other players should be punished? What kind of punishment should
they get?

terça-feira, 10 de fevereiro de 2015

2015 will be a very exciting year for the movie fans.There will
be all kinds of films to please everyone, people from all ages.

Last month we could watch The Theory of Everything (A teoria de tudo), that
is the incredible story of Jane and Stephen Hawking. A very nice movie that
reminded me of Dilza (she’s the Physics teacher in our school and a huge fan of
him). My 12-year-old niece wants me to go to the cinema with her to see Insurgent
(it is a 2012 science fiction young adult novel by American novelist Veronica
Roth and the second book in the Divergent trilogy) and The Hunger Games – part II. As I went with her to see the first
ones, I guess it makes sense. My husband has already chosen Furious 7 (not only by the cars but
also due to the “retirement” of Brian
O'Connor)

and Jurassic World (a new dinosaur park is always very interesting).My little niece will have a lot of fun with Hotel Transylvania 2 (there is a game
in the tablet which was inspired in the first movie that she really enjoys
playing) and Minions (who wouldn’t
like them?). In October, to get the Halloween mood, Crimson Peak (with a good cast and a haunted house) is a nice
choice. My students have already invited me to go to the premiere of "Avengers: Age of Ultron" and of course I said "yes". As we did last year, we will talk about the movie after watching it, in a cafe, and that's a very nice, funny and meaningful moment. I myself am very curious to see Mogli
(because I’ve always enjoyed this story), Frankenstein (because it will bring another perspective about the
story from the point of view of Victor’s friend, Igor), Star Wars (the premiere will be on my birthday), Cake (because it shows how life can
take us to the most unimagined places and actions) and Boyhood (my favorite actor is in it). But besides all that, there
will be many good movies to enjoy, to think about and to keep on amazing us!

Post Question:

- How often do
you go to the cinema? Do you enjoy watching movies? What is your favorite kind of movie?

- Is there a movie that you are particularly
interested in watch it? Which one? Why?

Tip: To see the trailers of these movies and the other options for 2015, just click here.

quinta-feira, 8 de janeiro de 2015

Another New Year has started and with it lots of promises, but the most important one is the possibility of change what not pleased us or to keep (and even improve) what make us happy! It's a time to set new goals (or renew some old ones) and indulges this idea of a "fresh start" that is

given to us once more. To celebrate that, I'd like to share a poem (written by David Boyce on 30 December 2006) that could express what I really think about this period. I do hope that this opportunity can bring people together, not only to the celebration, but also to all the days of 2015.

The Start of a New Year

The start
of a New YearSees the
beginning of changeYou can
start a fresh lifeOr just
even rearrange

The start
of a New YearTo change
so much to your lifeYou can
make promises to yourselfOr vows
to your husband or wife

The start
of a New YearCan block
out things of oldSearch
forward in the year aheadFor the
Pot of Gold

The start
of a New YearCan
revitalise your soulThink
what you want out of lifeTo meet
your special goals.

Quem sou eu

Professora de Inglês que graças a profissão se tornou uma cidadã do mundo que acredita piamente em duas coisas: lar é onde o coração está e que a educação é a chave para um mundo (bem) melhor!
I'm an English teacher that thanks to this profession became a world citizen who strongly believes in two things: home is where the heart is and that education is the key to a (much) better world!